The Lord Mayor of the City of Manchester, Councillor Carmine Grimshaw, has visited packaging manufacturer and consultancy Duo to mark a remarkable milestone: a combined total of 1,000 years of staff service.

Based in Manchester, Duo’s 102-strong team has collectively achieved more than a millennium of service since the business opened its doors in 1988. One in six employees has been with the company for over 20 years, a testament to staff loyalty that has now been formally recognised in a specially created Heritage Book, complete with a foreword by the Lord Mayor.

According to industry figures, the average length of service in the UK manufacturing sector is between two to five years, while in Greater Manchester the figure is around four to six years.

The Heritage Book was presented to staff during the Lord Mayor’s visit. He said: “It’s a real privilege to write the foreword for Duo’s team Heritage Book. A celebration of the people who’ve built, shaped and carried this proud Manchester business over the decades. From the moment you walk through the doors at Duo, you can feel the energy, the passion for innovation and the pride in getting things right. And above all, the people behind it all. This Heritage Book is a celebration of a team that’s helped shape Duo’s story over the decades.”

Zoe Brimelow, a Director at Duo, added: “The Heritage Book captures a snapshot of what makes our team so special. It’s full of stories from colleagues about their favourite memories, staff events and initiatives, and their reflections on how the business has grown and evolved since the 1980s.

“The whole process of speaking with staff to create the book, publishing and launching it, has brought a smile to people’s faces, as they take a trip down memory lane. It’s a fantastic reminder of everything the team has achieved, and their ongoing commitment, and a real honour that the Lord Mayor has supported this.”